Kanda II, adhyaya 1, brahmana 2

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

1. He may set up the two fires^[1] under the Kṛttikās; for they, the Kṛttikās, are doubtless Agni's asterism, so that if he sets up his fires under Agni's asterism, (he will bring about) a correspondence (between his fires and the asterism): for this reason he may set up his fires under the Kṛttikās.

2. Moreover, the other lunar asterisms (consist of) one, two, three or four (stars), so that the Kṛttikās are the most numerous (of asterisms)^[2]: hence he thereby obtains an abundance. For this reason he may set up his fires under the Kṛttikās.

3. And again, they do not move away from the eastern quarter, whilst the other asterisms do move from the eastern quarter. Thus his (two fires) are established in the eastern quarter: for this reason he may set up his fires under the Kṛttikās.

4. On the other hand (it is argued) why he should not set up the fires under the Kṛttikās. Originally, namely, the latter were the wives of the Bears (ṛkṣa); for the seven Ṛṣis^[3] were in former times called the Ṛkṣas (bears). They were, however, precluded from intercourse (with their husbands), for the latter, the seven Ṛṣis, rise in the north, and they (the Kṛttikās) in the east. Now it is a misfortune for one to be precluded from intercourse (with his wife): he should therefore not set up his fires under the Kṛttikās, lest he should thereby be precluded from intercourse.

5. But he may nevertheless set up (his fire under the Kṛttikās); for Agni doubtless is their mate, and it is with Agni that they have intercourse: for this reason he may set up (the fire under the Kṛttikās).

6. He may also set up his fires under (the asterism of Rohiṇī. For under Rohiṇī it was that Prajāpati, when desirous of progeny (or creatures), set up his fires. He created beings, and the creatures produced by him remained invariable and constant^[4], like (red) cows (rohiṇī): hence the cow-like nature of Rohiṇī. Rich in cattle and offspring therefore he becomes whosoever, knowing this, sets up his fires under Rohiṇī.

7. Under Rohiṇī, indeed, the cattle set up their fires, thinking that they might attain to (ruh) the desire (or love) of men. They did attain to the desire of men; and whatever desire the cattle then obtained in regard to men, that same desire he obtains, in regard to cattle, whosoever, knowing this, sets up his fire under Rohiṇī.

8. He may also set up his fires under (the asterism of) Mṛgaśīrṣa. For Mṛgaśīrṣa, indeed, is the head of Prajāpati^[5]; and the head (śiras) means excellence (śrī), for the head does indeed mean excellence: hence they say of him who is the most excellent (śreṣṭha) of a community, that he is the head of that community. Excellence therefore he attains whosoever, knowing this, sets up his fire under Mṛgaśīrṣa.

9. On the other hand (it is argued) why one should not set up his fire under Mṛgaśīrṣa^[6]. The latter, indeed, is Prajāpati's body. Now, when they (the gods) on that occasion pierced him^[7] with what is called 'the three-knotted arrow,' he abandoned that body, for the body is a mere relic (or dwelling, vāstu), unholy and sapless. He should therefore not set up his fires under Mṛgaśīrṣa.

10. But he may, nevertheless, set them up (under Mṛgaśīrṣa). For, assuredly, the body of that god, Prajāpati, is neither a relic nor unholy,^[8]: he may therefore set up (his fires under Mṛgaśīrṣa). 'Under the Punarvasū he should perform the Punarādheya^[9],' thus (it is prescribed).

11. He may also set up his fires under the Phalgunīs. They, the Phalgunīs, are Indra's asterism^[10], and even correspond to him in name; for indeed Indra is also called Arjuna, this being his mystic name; and they (the Phalgunīs) are also called Arjunīs. Hence he overtly calls them Phalgunīs, for who dares to use his (the god's) mystic name? Moreover, the sacrificer himself is Indra, so that he in that case sets up his fires under his own asterism. Indra is the deity of the sacrifice; and accordingly his Agnyādheya is thereby brought into relation with Indra. He may set up the fires under the first (Pūrva-phalgunīs)--whereby an advancing (successful) sacrifice accrues to him; or he may set them up under the second (Uttara-phalgunīs)--whereby a progressive (uttarāvat) improvement accrues to him.

12. Let him set up his fires under the asterism Hasta^[11], whosoever should wish that (presents) should be offered him: then indeed (that will take place) forthwith; for whatever is offered with the hand (hasta), that indeed is given to him.

13. He may also set up his fires under Citrā. Now the gods and the Asuras, both of them sprung from Prajāpati, were contending for superiority. Both parties were desirous of rising to yonder world, the sky. The Asuras then constructed the fire (altar) called rauhiṇa (fit to ascend by), thinking, 'Thereby we shall ascend (ā-ruh) to the sky^[12].'

14. Indra then considered^[13], 'If they construct that (fire-altar), they will certainly prevail over us.' He secured a brick and proceeded thither, passing himself off for a Brāhman.

15. 'Hark ye!' he said, 'I, too, will put on this (brick) for myself!' 'Very well,' they replied. He put it on. That fire (altar) of theirs wanted but very little to be completely built up,--

16. When he said, 'I shall take back this (brick) which belongs to me.' He took hold of it and pulled it out; and on its being pulled out, the fire-altar fell down; and along with the falling fire-altar the Asuras fell down. He then converted those bricks into thunderbolts and clove the (Asuras') necks.

17. Thereupon the gods assembled and said, 'Wonderfully (citram) indeed it has fared with us who have slain so many enemies!' Hence the wonderful nature (citrātva)^[14] of the asterism

Citrā; and verily wonderfully it fares with him, and he slays his rivals, his spiteful enemy, whosoever, knowing this, sets up his fires under Citrā. A Kṣatriya, therefore, should especially desire to take advantage of this asterism; since such a one is anxious to strike, to vanquish his enemies.

18. Originally these (nakṣatras) were so many different powers (kṣatra), just as that sun yonder. But as soon as he rose, he took from them (ā-dā) their energy, their power; therefore he (the sun) is called Āditya, because he took from them their energy, their power^[15].

19. The gods then said, 'They who have been powers, shall no longer (na) be powers (kṣatra)^[16]!' Hence the powerlessness (na-kṣatratvam) of the nakṣatras. For this reason also one need only take the sun for one's nakṣatra (star), since he took away from them their energy, their power. But if he (the sacrificer) should nevertheless be desirous of having a nakṣatra (under which to set up his fires), then assuredly that sun is a faultless nakṣatra for him; and through that auspicious day (marked by the rising and setting of the sun) he should endeavour to obtain the benefits of whichever of those asterisms he might desire. Let him therefore take the sun alone for his nakṣatra^[17].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

That is, the Gārhapatya and Āhavanīya, the two principal fires.

[2]:

Whilst the Kṛttikās, or Pleiades, are supposed to consist of seven (or, according to others, of six) stars. the remaining twenty-six nakṣatras or lunar mansions, according to our author, vary between one and four stars. Hence the Kṛttikās are also called Bahulās, 'the numerous.' In the later accounts, however, a larger number of stars is attributed to several nakṣatras. Cf. Weber, Nakṣatra, II, pp. 368, 381. The Kāṇva text has: 'Other nakṣatras are (i.e. consist of) four; and there is here an abundance, so that he thereby obtains abundance.'

[3]:

Saptarshi, or the seven Ṛṣis, is the designation of the p. 283 constellation of Ursa Major, or the Wain. In the Rig-vela,. rikṣāḥ (bears) occurs once (I, 24, 10), either in the same restricted sense, or in that of stars generally.

[4]:

'Tā asya prajāḥ sṛṣṭā ekarūpā upastabdhās tasthū rohiṇya iva.' The Kāṇva text reads: Tam imāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭā rohiṇya ivopastabdhās tasthur ekarāpā iva. Sāyaṇa interprets upastabdhāḥ ('propped up, erect,' established) by 'pratibaddhajātayaḥ (of continuous lineage),' and ekarūpāḥ ('uniform') by 'avicchinnapravāhāḥ (of uninterrupted flow or succession).' In Taitt. Br. I, 1, 2, 2, it is stated that Prajāpati created Agni under (the asterism) Rohiṇī, and that the gods then set up that fire under the same asterism.

[5]:

For the mythical allusions in this and the succeeding paragraphs, we have to compare Śat. Br. I, 7, 4, 1; Ait. Br. III, 33. According to the version of the myth given in the latter work, Prajāpati transformed himself into a roe-buck (ṛśya) and approached his own daughter (either the sky, or the dawn), who had assumed the shape of a doe (rohit). Out of their most fearful forms the gods then fashioned a divine being called Bhūtavat (i.e. Rudra), in order to punish Prajāpati for his incestuous deed. The latter was accordingly pierced by Bhūtavat's arrow and bounded up to the sky, where he became the constellation called Mṛga (i.e. Mṛgaśīrṣa), while his daughter became the asterism Rohiṇī. The arrow on the other hand, with which Prajāpati was pierced, became the constellation called 'the three-knotted arrow (perhaps the girdle of Orion).'

[6]:

The Black Yajus does not recommend this asterism for the performance of agnyādheya.

[7]:

The Kāṇva text reads, 'When, on that occasion, that god (viz. Rudra) pierced him with the three-knotted arrow.'

[8]:

Na vā etasya devasya vāstu nāyajñiyaṃ na śarīram asti.--Na vai tasya vāstu na nivīryaṃ nāyajñiyam asti, 'for the relic of that (god) is neither sapless nor impure.' Kāṇva recension.

[9]:

I.e. the repetition of the ādheya, or setting up of his fires, a ceremony which has to be performed in the event of the ādheya having proved unsuccessful; that is, in case he should not have prospered or even sustained losses. The direction has been inserted in this place on account of the position of Punarvasū, as the fifth mansion, between Mṛgaśīrṣa, the third, and (Pūrva and Uttara) Phalgunīs, the ninth and tenth mansions, in the original order of the nakṣatras.

[10]:

In Taitt. Br. I, 1, 2, 4, the Pūrve Phalgunī are assigned to Aryaman, and the Uttare Phalgunī to Bhaga. While, however, both these asterisms are there recommended for the agnyādheya, the Pūrve Phalgunī are rejected as unsuitable further on, in par. 8 (? a later addition).

[11]:

In the Taitt. Br. this asterism is not mentioned as suitable for the agnyādheya. The Āśv. Ś. II, 1, to omits both Hasta and Citrā; but permits the asterisms Viśākhe and Uttare Proṣṭhapade.

[12]:

In Taitt. Br. I, 1, 2, 4-6 this myth is related as follows: 'There were Asuras, named Kālakañjas. They constructed a fire (altar) with a view to (gaining) the world of heaven. They put, every man of them, a brick to it. Indra, passing himself off for a Brāhman, put a brick on for himself, saying, "This one, Cītra (the wonderful or bright one) by name, is for me!" They climbed up to heaven; Indra, however, pulled out his brick, and they tumbled down. And they who tumbled down, became spiders: two of them flew up, and they became the two heavenly dogs.' On this myth, Dr. A. Kuhn, 'Über entwickelungsstufen der mythenbildung,' p. 129, remarks: 'The myth given in Homer's Od. xi, 305-325, of Otos and Ephialtes, who, in order to fight the immortal gods, piled Ossa on Olympos, and Pelion on Ossa, of ἵν᾽ οὐρανὸς, and who are destroyed by Apollon, shows an obvious resemblance to these Indian myths; the more so, if we divest the latter of their Brāhmanical form, by which altar-bricks are substituted p. 287 for mountains; and if we hear in mind that the later versions of the myth, e.g. in the well-known passage of Ovid, put the Gigantes in the place of the Aloades.' See also Weber, Nakṣatra, II, p. 372.

[13]:

The Kāṇva text here proceeds thus: The gods then were afraid and said, 'If those (Asuras) complete (samāsyanti) that (fire-altar), they will prevail over us.' Then Indra having fastened a brick with the lightning-band (ārkeṇa dāmnā) went thither passing himself off for a Brāhman. He said, 'I, too, will put on this (brick) for myself.' They said, 'On then (upa hi)!' He put it on. That (fire-altar) wanted but very little to be built up, when he said, 'I shall take this (brick) which is mine,' Take it then (ā hi)!' they said. Then seizing it (tām abhihāya) he pulled it out. On its being pulled out the fire-altar tumbled down. On the fire-altar having tumbled down he made thunderbolts with those bricks and smote those (Asuras). Then the gods prevailed and the Asuras were worsted, &c.

[14]:

Or, perhaps, its identity with (Indra's brick) Citrā; cf. preceding note.

[15]:

The Kāṇva text reads: Tāni ha vā etāni kṣatrāṇi nānaiva tepur yathāsau vā sūryaś candramā vā; teṣāṃ hodyann evādityaḥ kṣatraṃ vīryaṃ tegaḥ pralulopa, tad vaiṣām ādade.

[16]:

This etymology of nakṣatra is of course quite fanciful. For Aufrecht's probably correct derivation of the word from nakta-tra, 'night-protector,' cf. Zeitschrift für vergl. Sprachf., VIII, pp. 71, 72. See also Weber, Nakṣatra; II, p. 268.

[17]:

The Kāṇva text reads: Tasmān na nakṣatram ādriyeta yadaivaiṣa kadā codīyād apy ādadhītaiṣa hi sarvāṇi kṣatrāṇi p. 289 yadyu nakṣatrakāmaḥ syād upo āsīta nakṣatram ahāsya bhavati no etasyānudayo ’sti tasmād v apy upaina(m ā)sīta, 'he need therefore not attend to any nakṣatra; but may set up his fires at any time when that (sun) rises, for he (the sun) is all the kṣatras. Should he nevertheless be desirous of a nakṣatra, let him approach (the sun) with veneration; for then there is a nakṣatra for him, and that (sun) does not fail to rise: for this reason let him approach (the sun) with veneration.'